Gas-testing machine



Jan. 23, 1923.

T. R. ERNEST. GAs TESTING MACHXNE. FILED MAR. 3. 1921.

Patented Jan. 23, 1923.

httz htti T0 CHICAGO APPARATUS GOR- A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GAS-TESTING- MACHINE.

3 ;Application filed March 3, 1921. Serial No. 449,443.

To all lchomit may, concern. v Be it known that I, THOMAS E. ERNEST, a citizen of the UnitedSt-ates, and a resident ofthe city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Testing Machines of which the following'is a speci fication.

My invention relates to gas testing mechanisms. andithas for its principal object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by which gases may be tested at intervals throughout the period of their production for the purpose of proving their purity prior to their being led to the ordinary tank for storage and whereby assurance may be had that the gas passing to the tank is not an explosive mixture liable to cause a serious explosion. upon the intro .duction of a spark from any source. It is another object of my invention to provide automatically acting means for throwing the. gas producing means out of operation if for any reason a may be produced.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which.

Fig. '1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of my improved mechanism installed in connection with a gas producing means, and,

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through one of the testingdevices employed.

Referring to the drawings indicates a uantit r of explosive as q 5 i b direct current generator connected by lead wires 6 and '7 with an electrolyzer 8 of any approved type by which gases are produced. The electrolyzer shown comprises a partition 9 indicated by dotted lines by whichthe gases generated at the poles of the cell are kept out of contact with eachother For de' livery through the pipes 10 andll.

For testing thegases being delivered from the electrol vzer 8. I have provided auxiliary pipes 12 and 13 oifa small size leadingitrom o posite sides of the curtain or partition 9, such pipes being arranged to carry a relatively small proportion of the gas being produced to receptacles ll and 15 respec- The switch is held .tively, which are mounted upon a board 16 in convenient position. Each of the receptacles 14- and 15 is in constant communication with the atmosphere through a stub pipe L7, whereby the gas within the receptacle is maintained at substantially atmospheric'pressure. M eans is provided for producing spark at intervals within each of the receptacles 14 and 15. As will be readily understood, if an explosion takes place within the receptacle when the spark is produced. such occurrence indicates that an explosive mixture is being delivered to the storage tank.that isto say, that an objectionable mixing of gasesiis occurring. Upon such indication, the electrolyz er or other gas producing means is to be thrown out of operation until the defect, by reason of which the mixing takes place, can be remedied.

in the construction shown, I have prov ded means adapted automatically to throw the electrolyzer out of, operation upon the occurrence of an explosion within one of the receptacles 14 and 15. In the construction shown. the means for throwing the gas producing apparatus out of operation comprises a switch 18 interposed in the electric circuit connecting the generator 5 with the electrolyzer 8, a condenser 19 being connected across the ga p of the switch 'For reducing the sparking upon the opening of the switch (3S hereinafter described. A spring 20 is connected with the switch 18 adapted normally to hold the switch open, but adapted to yield to permit the closing of the switch for starting the apparatus in operation.

in operative closed position by means of an electro-magnet 21 which operates upon an armature 22 carried by the switch .18 for holding the switch closed against the action of the spring. The electromagnet 21. is energized by a shunt current provided by a circuit 23 comprising electric switches and connected. in series in said circuit. Means is provided adapted upon an explosion in one o'i'the receptacles 14.- and .5 to open the corresponding switch 24 or to breaking the circuit 23 and thus de-enernizing the magnet 21 so as to permit the spring 20 to open the switch 18 for stopping the operation of the producing apparatus.

The means in the construction shown for producing a series of sparks intermittently within the receptaclesfild and .15 in the form of a transformer comprising a primary coil 26 and a secondary coil 27, the primary coil being; connected by means of a circuit 28 across the main circuit from the generator The circuit 28 comprises a heating element 29 ot any suitable type, being shown in the form of a lamp adaptedto be heated by the current passing through the'circuit 28. Adjacent to the lamp 29 I have provided a switch comprising a bi-metal arm 30 the two parts of which are connected by a series of rivets 31 so that upon the heating oi. the arm the arm as a whole will curl for lifting); the

phragin on. 39,.preferahlv of fiber, such arm being: in

free end out of operative engagement with the contact member 32 of the switch. it is designed that the two parts or the arm 30 shall he made of iron and Zinc, or of any other two metalswhich have a materially difierent coelhcient of expansion. fully appreciated in connection with thermostatic regulators of this type. It will be understood that upon the breal-zing; oi the circuit 28 by the movement of the arm 30. the heating element 29 will be thrown out oi operation, whereupon the arm cool and to straighten out For establishing thecircuit, The arrangement is preferably to be such that the circuit will he openedat intervals of one to three minutes.

f The secondary coil 27 is connected by means of a wirefi i with the metal casing of one of the receptacles if}: and 15, in which metal casing I have provided a sparl: plug); Biol any suitable type, such spark plus: be ingconnected by means of a wire 5-?53 with the metal casing of the other receptacle. A. wire 36 is provided, in turn, for connecting;

-. the coil 27 with a spark plug 35'? mounted in the casing with which the wire 35 is connected. It is thus seen that the sparl-t plugs 34: and, 37 are connected in series with the secondary coil 27 whereby, upon the brealc ing of the circuit throughthe primary coil 26 as above de cribed, a higl'i tension induced current is produced. in the secondary circuit causing a spark at each of: the plugs 34tand 37 within the receptacles Tl l and .5 Coming): now to the description o-i" one oi? the receptacles leinod lland the switches 2 and 2:5 which are to b" operated in co r neetion therewith. (see 1 I2) 381 l a resilient diaphragm pr 'f i-ahlv from thin. sheet of metal ino'lr side wall of-the casing. oi the reci such diaphragm constitutiinr a 170i.- such side wall. Mounted upon the di:1 .l have provided an arm or lug;

contact at its outer end with one arm of the switch 24- Which is shown in the form of a hell crank lever pivotally mounted upon a fiber post 4-0 carried by the board 16.- A sp ring 41 is provided'adapted normally to ho the switch as in the position shown in 30 s permitted to .rat intru'vals within saidreceptacie. '7

solid lines in said Fig. Bf-with one of its arms in operative engagement with a con-- tact 42 supportedby a fiber post e3. The contact &2 and the bell crank lover of the switch are connected respectively with the leads of the circuit 23. 1

Inasmuch as the receptacle 15 and cooperating parts are similar, it is believed to be unnecessary to describe the same in detail.

Upon an explosion within one of the receptacles i l and 15, the diaphragm 38 is bulged outwardly, serving to I swing the switch member '24: in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2 for breaking the operative engagement between such switch member and the contact 42.: The circuit being thus temporarily broken through the leads 23, the spring I arm 18 toward the right in Fig. .1 for opening; the'main circuit and throwingthe electroig 'zer out or operation and thus discontinuing the How of the gas to -the receptacles 14 and 15 through the pipes 12 and 13. In each of the receptacles 14 and 15,1 have constructed the outer face in the form of a glass plate is so that an operator may be nbleto see the effect of every wen; explosion which might .not be of sui icient force to open the switches above described.

While have illustrated and described the preferred i'ormof'construotion.iior cari ving' my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and 'modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I. therefore, do not wish .to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth; but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

l-laving described my invention. what claim as new and desire to secure bv Letters Patent is: '1

1. In con'ibination. a receptacle. means for causing; a flow of gasthrousrh said receptacle at substantially atmospheric pressure, and means :tor producing a spark at intervals withinsaid receptacle.

2. in combination. a receptacle provided with an opening: to the air. means for delivns to said receptacle. and iueans For a spark: at interv iii] said receticle while open to the a;

3. In combin tion. a. re atacl a constant flow c as through ,lo. and means for prodiuzin,

mean?- for rcceptai 4. in combination. a receptacle open ronstnnlly to theair means for causing, a constant flow of gas through. said receptacle. and means for producing a spark at inter-l rals within said receptacle. I

5. In combination, means for producing: gas, a receptacle, means for causing a relatively small proportion of said gas to have a constant flow through said receptacle, and

2O isenabled to. move the switch ion means for producing aspark at intervals within said rcce itacle.

6. In combination, means *l'er producing gas, a receptacle, means for causing a'relatively-small proportion of the-gas produced to flow through sa'id'receptacleat substantiallyatmospheric pressure, and means for producing a spark at intervals withinsaid receptacle.

7. In combination, a-receptacle,-means for causing a flow of gas through said receptacle at substantially atn'iospheric pressure, means for producing a spark at intervals within said receptacle, and means actuated by an explosion of the gas within said receptacle for shutting ofl the flow of gas to the receptacle.

8. In combination, means for producing gas, a receptacle open constantly to the air, means for causing a relatively small proportion of the gas produced to have a constant flow through said receptacle, means for producing a spark at intervals within said receptacle, and means actuated by an explosion of the gas within said receptacle for shutting off the flow of gas to the receptacle.

9. In combination, means for producing gas, a receptacle, means for causing a rela tively small proportion of the gas produced to flow through said receptacle at substantially atmospheric pressure, means for producing a spark at intervals within said receptacle, and means actuated by an explosion of the gas within said receptacle for throwing the gasproducing means out of operation.

10. In combination, means for producing gas, a receptacle, means for causing a relatively small proportion of the gas produced to flow through said receptacle at substantially atmospheric pressure, means for producing a spark at intervals within said rcceptacle, and means operated by the pressure within said receptacle upon an explosion of gas therein for throwing said gas producing means out of operation.

11. In combination, a receptacle having a portion of its wall in the form of a yield inn diaphragm, means for causing a How of gas through said receptacle at substarn tially atmospheric pressure, means for producing spark within said receptacle at intervals, and means actuated by the movement of said diaphragm upon an explosion within said receptacle for shutting of? the flow of gas to said receptacle.

12. In combination, means for producing gas, a receptacle having aportion of its wall in the form of a yielding diaphragm, means for causing a relatively small proportion of the gas produced to flow through said receptacle at substantially atmospheric pres sure, means for producing a spark at intervals within said receptacle, and means actuupon an explosion within for causing-a 'flow or? gas vals within said receptacle, an electric circuit bywhichtheflow ofgas is controlled, a switch in said circuit, and means actuated by an explosion of gas within said receptacle for operating said switch for shutting ofi the flow of gas to said receptacle.

14:. In combination, means for producing gas, a receptacle, means for causing a relatively small proportion of the gas produced to flow through said receptacle at substantially atmospheric pressure, means for producing a spark at intervals within said receptacle, an electric circuit by which the operation of said gas producing means is controlled, a switch in said circuit, and means actuated by an explosion of gas within said receptacle for operating said switch for throwing said gasproducing means out of operation.

15. In combination. a receptacle having a portion of its wall in the form of a yielding diaphragm. means for causing a flow of gas through said receptacle at substantially atmospheric pressure, means for producing a spark within said receptacle at intervals, an electric circuit by which the flow of gas to said receptacle is controlled, a switch in said circuit. and means actuated by the movement of said diaphragm upon an explosion within said receptacle for operating said switch for shutting oil the flow of gas to said re ceptacle;

, 16. In combination, means for producing gas, a receptacle having a portion of its wall in the form of a yielding diaphragm, means for causing a relatively small proportion of the gas produced to flow through said receptacle at substantially atmospheric pres sure, means for producing a spark at intervals within said receptacle. an electric circuit by which the operation oi said gas producing means is mint-rolled. a switch in said circuit, and means actuated by the movement of said diaphragm upon an explosion within said receptacle for operating said switch for throwing the producing means out of operation.

17. In combination, an electrolyzer, a receptacle. means for causing a relatively small proportion of the gas produced in said electrolyzer to flow through said receptacle at substantially atmospheric pressure, means for producing a spark at intervals within said receptacle, and means actuated by an explosion of the gas within said receptacle for throwing the electrolyzer out of operation.

Y 18. In combination, an electrolyzer a re ceptacle, means for causing a relatively small proportion of the gas produced in said electrolyzer to How through said receptacle at substantially atmospheric pressure, means for producing a spark at intervals within said receptacle, an electric circuit with which said electrolyzer is connected for op- .erating the same, an electric switch in said LO clrcult, and means actuated by an exploslon of the gas within said receptacle for opening said switch for throwing out of operation.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence '15 of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS R. ERNEST. Witnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs, FREDA C. APPLETON.

the electrolyzer 

